OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 13, 2009) - Young Canadians are invited to participate in the 2009-2010 Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition by creating and submitting videos that share their views and ideas on ending racial discrimination.

"Young people passionately lead the way in combating racism," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. "This competition provides an excellent opportunity for young people to creatively express their views and to send a message to all Canadians that discrimination is unacceptable."

The competition is open to youth aged 12 to 20, who can participate in teams of up to five people. An independent national panel will judge the videos based on their effectiveness and creativity in communicating the anti-racism message, in addition to the audiovisual quality. The competition will also include a Public Choice Award, allowing Canadians to vote for their favourite video on YouTube. Last year, more than 1,200 students participated in a total of 340 video submissions.

The creators of the 10 winning videos will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Canada's National Capital Region, where they will participate in an awards ceremony in March 2010.

In addition, the winning videos will be televised across Canada as public service announcements.

The Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition is an annual contest that was initiated by the Government of Canada in 1996 as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, held on March 21st each year. This day was proclaimed in 1966 to commemorate the Sharpeville massacre of March 21, 1960, when police killed 69 South Africans participating in an anti-apartheid demonstration.

Partners of the National Video Competition include MuchMusic, VRAK TV, the National Film Board of Canada, Panasonic Canada Inc., the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and the United Nations Association in Canada.